Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Ephesians: Chapter 5].
or antecedent. {By the washing of water} (\t•i loutr•i tou
hudatos\). If \loutron\ only means bath or bathing-place ( =
\loutron\), then \loutr•i\ is in the locative. If it can mean
bathing or washing, it is in the instrumental case. The usual
meaning from Homer to the papyri is the bath or bathing-place,
though some examples seem to mean bathing or washing. Salmond
doubts if there are any clear instances. The only other N.T.
example of \loutron\ is in Tit 3:5. The reference here seems to
be to the baptismal bath (immersion) of water, "in the bath of
water." See 1Co 6:11 for the bringing together of
\apelousasthe\ and \h•giasth•te\. Neither there nor here does
Paul mean that the cleansing or sanctification took place in the
bath save in a symbolic fashion as in Ro 6:4-6. Some think that
Paul has also a reference to the bath of the bride before
marriage. Still more difficult is the phrase "with the word" (\en
r•mati\). In Joh 17:17 Jesus connected "truth" with "sanctify."
That is possible here, though it may also be connected with
\katharisas\ (having cleansed). Some take it to mean the
baptismal formula.
5:27 {That he might present} (\hina parast•s•i\). Final clause
with \hina\ and first aorist active subjunctive of \parist•mi\
(see Col 1:22 for parallel) as in 2Co 11:2 of presenting the
bride to the bridegroom. Note both \autos\ (himself) and
\heaut•i\ (to himself). {Glorious} (\endoxon\). Used of splendid
clothing in Lu 7:25. {Spot} (\spilos\). Late word, in N.T. only
here and 2Pe 2:13, but \spilo•\, to defile in Jas 3:6; Jude
1:23. {Wrinkle} (\rutida\). Old word from \ru•\, to contract,
only here in N.T. {But that it should be holy and without
blemish} (\all' hina •i hagia kai am•mos\). Christ's goal for the
church, his bride and his body, both negative purity and
positive.
5:28 {Even so ought} (\hout•s opheilousin\). As Christ loves the
church (his body). And yet some people actually say that Paul in
1Co 7 gives a degrading view of marriage. How can one say that
after reading Eph 5:22-33 where the noblest picture of marriage
ever drawn is given?
5:29 {Nourisheth} (\ektrephei\). Old compound with perfective
sense of \ek\ (to nourish up to maturity and on). In N.T. only
here and 6:4. {Cherisheth} (\thalpei\). Late and rare word,
once in a marriage contract in a papyrus. In N.T. only here and
1Th 2:7. Primarily it means to warm (Latin _foveo_), then to
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